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RE: Precision
> From: owner-DINOSAUR@usc.edu [mailto:owner-DINOSAUR@usc.edu]On Behalf Of
> Tim Williams
>
> As an addendum to Mike's response (which was right on the money), one extra
> caveat is that such estimates are based on individual specimens. Therefore,
> when we say...
>
> "Brachiosaurus had an estimated body length of X m and an estimated mass of
> Y tonnes"
>
> what we are really saying is ...
>
> "The largest *known* specimen of Brachiosaurus had an estimated body length
> of X m and an estimated mass of Y tonnes".
>
To say this another way:
Size is a property of individuals, not taxa.
"Average size" is a property of populations.
"Maxmimum recovered body size" is a property of populations subject to a LOT of
taphonomic filters.
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Senior Lecturer, Vertebrate Paleontology
Department of Geology Director, Earth, Life & Time Program
University of Maryland College Park Scholars
Mailing Address:
Building 237, Room 1117
College Park, MD 20742
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/eltsite
Phone: 301-405-4084 Email: tholtz@geol.umd.edu
Fax (Geol): 301-314-9661 Fax (CPS-ELT): 301-405-0796